The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus has been assigned a maximum 10 percent evaluation, which is the highest available under applicable criteria. His service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for any compensable rating.,The Board finds that there is no evidence of record showing that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder was incurred during his military service or within one year thereafter.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient medical evidence to establish a direct link between the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder and his active military service. The Board notes that while the Veteran reported in-service repetitive stress on his back, there is no medical opinion linking his current condition to his service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 6100 due to the presence of Level I hearing acuity in both ears. The maximum schedular rating for tinnitus (Diagnostic Code 6260) is already assigned, and a separate evaluation cannot be granted.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral tinnitus, Service-connected bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 17, 2017
- Citation
- 1727763
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1727763.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 29, 2020. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC housebound.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that his in-service exposure to hazardous noise caused his current condition.
- Granted
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 26, 2017 for the award of TDIU due to service-connected psychiatric disability and an earlier effective date of November 9, 2018 for the award of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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